Thoughts for the Day

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today is Advent Sunday (the Church's New Year) when we start four weeks of prayer and introspection leading to the celebration of the birth of the Christ-Child in Bethlehem. It's difficult to remember this is a solemn time - the nearest thing to Lent that we have - while we and everyone else are preparing for a festival holiday. That is why many of us are reading a Chapter a Day of St Luke's Gospel for Advent. As well as practically getting ready for Christmas we need to prepare ourselves spiritually, and reading Luke or these Thoughts, are attempts to do this.

We may know the phrase "being born again" but wonder where it comes from. It appears in the story of Nicodemus in John's Gospel. We learn that Nicodemus comes to Jesus 'by night', in other words not openly. He's a Pharisee, one of those who want to keep strictly to the Law of Moses, and wouldn't perhaps wish to be seen associating with a maverick preacher and healer. He seems to be rather a 'know-all', saying "I know that you are a teacher come from God", and rather than asking a question of Jesus, states what he knows.

Jesus uses Nicodemus' own words to challenge and deepen the man's knowledge of God. He turns his words on their head. It's not enough to says we know God, we need to accept that we are known and loved by God. The Greek word gennethe is used, which means to 'father a child'. It's not the word for 'giving birth' (ie being born). He is saying we need to be fathered a second time, by our Heavenly Father, through His Spirit. Only when we stop thinking we know God, and start to open ourselves to His presence in our life, will this happen. May we open ourselves to God this Advent, so that our Christmas will be a truly blessed time!

Heavenly Father,
may we come to You in humility this Advent,
allowing You to teach us about Yourself,
and moulding us to be the person
You would have us be.
We ask You to fill us with Your Spirit,
a Spirit of love and generosity,
and we ask You to forgive our weaknesses.
Amen.